Game Changer: PIMCO Total Return ETF Set To Launch March 1

By Morningstar: By Robert Goldsborough
With little fanfare, PIMCO has announced that it is planning on March 1 to launch the long-awaited, actively managed exchange-traded fund version of its wildly popular fixed-income mutual fund, PIMCO Total Return Retail (PTRRX).As we had noted yesterday in our ETF Weekly column, PIMCO and Bill Gross, its star fund manager (and PIMCO founder), have been awaiting one final regulatory hurdle before launching the ETF version of Total Return, and they were reported elsewhere to be "weeks away" from a launch. The move is viewed as a game-changer for actively managed ETFs, because Gross far and away would be the highest-profile fund manager to roll out a version of a mutual fund in an ETF wrapper.Now, PIMCO has set a launch date for the proposed actively managed PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund (TRXT), which would disclose portfolio holdings daily and charge 0.55%. We view theComplete Story »

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Morningstar submits:
by Robert Goldsborough
This week, PIMCO submitted a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking permission to roll out a similar version of its popular PIMCO Total Return Retail (PTRRX) mutual fund in an exchange-traded fund wrapper.

Years ago, battle lines were drawn between the proponents of active and passive management. Skirmishing started in the mutual fund space but now has migrated into the realm of exchange traded products (ETPs). There isn't much money under active management in the ETP space yet, but some big players have jumped into the fray.

By Michael Johnston:Thursday brought the most anticipated ETF launch of the last several years, with PIMCO debuting an exchange-traded version of its popular Total Return Bond Fund (TRXT). The new ETF, PIMCO’s fifth actively managed product, is managed by bond guru Bill Gross–who is widely regarded as the top fixed income manager in the world.

By Tom Lydon:
PIMCO is getting ready to launch three new actively managed exchange traded funds this year. The funds will follow the success of PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND)."These three ETFs are designed to provide income and preserve purchasing power," says Don Suskind, head of ETF product management at PIMCO, in a report. "They line up with what we think investors need."

By Tom Lydon:
By John Spence & Tom Lydon
PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND) attracted more new cash in March than the mutual fund that is also run by bond maven Bill Gross, illustrating the popularity of the exchange traded fund wrapper.

Michael Johnston submits:PIMCO, the world’s largest bond manager, has ETF investors salivating over the prospect of an ETF version of the ultra-popular Total Return Fund. In a recent SEC filing, PIMCO laid the groundwork to launch an ETF version of the world’s largest bond fund.

By Ron Rowland:The PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund (TRXT) began trading March 1, 2012. Prior to its launch, TRXT became the most highly anticipated ETF introduction since the MacroShares Major Metro Housing Up/Down pair (UMM and DMM) burst onto the scene.

Kurt Brouwer submits: The folks at Pimco have been dipping their collective toes in the market for exchange traded funds for a while now. The water must have been fine because Pimco is diving right in with the registration of an ETF that will be similar to Pimco’s flagship bond fund, Pimco Total Return (PTTRX).